Alcohol abuse is a trap that anyone can easily fall into. Considering that drinking socially is acceptable, it can actually be difficult to detect when someone has crossed the line here. It is also possible for one to be a high-functioning alcoholic which also makes things that much more complicated.

However, once you identify the problem, the best option is to go to a detox center. Designed to help addicts, withdrawal program can help one get rid of the addiction successfully. Going to a good one offers the following benefits:

1. Having a Stable Detox Environment

For addicts, having a stable environment is necessary which doesn’t trigger their addiction. Stress from the job, easy access to alcohol at home or with friends, can make recovery very difficult. In a detox center’s stable environment, they are also far away from their enablers and triggers. This also increases chances of a successful recovery from the addiction.

2. Counselors are Present

Many addicts have an underlying issue which is why they turn to alcohol. Grief and unhappiness, loss and stress are major issues which most people do not take the time to process. Instead, they turn to alcohol to address these issues, and develop an addiction. With counselors, they get to learn other coping mechanisms which are healthier. They are also able to coach them on how to have a more positive outlook for the future.

3. Peer Support

Having a support system is important for anyone but more for people with alcohol abuse. With a rehab program, they get to establish a support system with others who are recovering from the addiction. Most peer support groups also consist of people who are in the advanced stages of recovery so they can help and coach the new one. Being with these people can help them learn how to be patient, help others and also turn to them when they need help.

4. Understanding the Nature of Their Addiction

To ensure proper recovery, detox centers help addicts learn the nature of their addiction. Management of triggers, prevention of relapse, what to do in social settings with alcohol and more are all taught to them. Most addicts don’t know how to handle such scenarios which makes it likely for them to relapse and make recovery difficult. Co-dependency and enabling behavior is also identified and corrected.

5. Zero Tolerance Policy

Detox centers are very strict about letting anyone bring any drugs, alcohols or other addictive substances. It’s different from an at-home environment where busy parents or spouses can overlook small things. With detox centers, the zero-tolerance policy means that people can recover without being tempted. People caught with any foreign substances on them also have their privileges taken away as punishment. Most families usually let the addict get away with such behavior rather than deal with the tantrums they throw.

6. Planning for Aftercare

Aftercare refers to the care a person needs once they successfully complete the treatment program. Most alcohol detox programs start planning this during the treatment. Aftercare is necessary to ensure that the person makes a successful recovery and does not suffer a relapse.

They also make it easier for one to transition back into their home environment with ease.

In today’s world, opiate addiction is the second most common form of substance dependency. It leaves the addicts at the mercy of dangerous drugs. If left untreated or mistreated, opiate addiction can prove to be disastrous.

While there are extensive treatment programs specially designed for opiate addiction, Kratom is gaining popularity as a quick, effective tool for opiate withdrawal.

What is Morphine Withdrawal?

Opiates are chemical substances used in the manufacturing of painkillers and other illicit drugs and can prove to be highly addictive if taken in excessive quantities or exposed to for too long.

All opiates act on the μ-opioid receptors in the brain to produce some pleasant effects, which may include pain relief, euphoria, and relaxation.

When an individual takes any of the opiates on a regular basis, certain chemical changes occur in their brain and it soon becomes accustomed to the pleasant sensations. The brain eventually starts depending on opiates to fill any gaps there are in the brain between the actual state and the desired pleasant state.

If the individual stops taking opiates and thereby, the gaps in the brain are not filled, their body tends to react in a negative way, triggering some highly discomforting symptoms. This is how the experience of opiate withdrawal is like.

The Effects of Opiate Withdrawal on the Mind and Body

Opiates are powerful enough to cause an impact on multiple body systems and so, its withdrawal is also a total body experience.

Opiate withdrawal affects the following crucial parts:

§ The Limbic System

Since the limbic system is the control center of emotions, opiate withdrawal makes an individual feel anxious and stressed to the extent that it may disrupt their sleeping pattern as well.

§ The Brainstem

The Brainstem regulates the human temperature, breathing, and heart rate and so, opiate withdrawal can result in a racing heart, excessive sweating, and chills.

In addition to these effects, opiate withdrawal can also upset the digestive system, resulting in dehydration, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Kratom Use for Opiate Withdrawal

Whether you experience a mild or severe opiate withdrawal, mitragynine speciosa may help relieve it.

Kratom is a natural herb believed to have some amazing pain and withdrawal relieving properties. Research suggests that this magical herb may treat withdrawal sickness temporarily by targeting the opiod receptors in the brain.

The best way to go around treating opiate withdrawal with Kratom is to not wait until the symptoms get worse.

It is also important to note that there are different varieties of mitragynine , all suited for different symptoms. While some varieties may help alleviate stress and anxiety effectively, others may be better at promoting sedative effects to induce sleep and make you feel relaxed.

The most powerful effects of Kratom tend to last for 4 to 5 hours after which you may need to take an additional dosage to avoid the return of opiate withdrawal symptoms. When it comes to the appropriate dosage of mitragynine speciosa, it varies based on the type of opiate you were taking and its dosage, and individual physiology. However, the moderate recommended dosage is between 2-4 grams of Kratom. You would have to wait for about 30 minutes to wait for it to kick in. after that, you may take an additional dosage of 1 gram and wait for experiencing the desired effects. You may take additional dosages of 1 gram after every 30 minutes until the ideal dosage for your symptoms is achieved.

Kratom is now widely used by recovering opiate addicts and is considered a safe solution, offering little to no side effects.

Because skin cancer rates continue to rise among young adults – a group previously unlikely to be diagnosed – states are acting on convincing evidence that indoor tanning is a significant factor. In 2013, following a number of other states, Illinois, Nevada, and Texas enacted legislation to block access to indoor tanning for minors. This is a trend we hope will eventually be rolled out across all states.

In June, Texas and Nevada became the fourth and fifth U.S. states to pass laws prohibiting anyone under 18 from indoor tanning; in August, Illinois became the sixth.

These new laws take effect as significant scientific evidence links indoor tanning with melanoma and other skin cancers. According to figures compiled by the Skin Cancer Foundation, of melanoma cases among 18-to-29-year-olds who had tanned indoors, 76 percent were attributable to tanning bed use. And more than 170,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in the U.S. each year are associated with indoor tanning.

Along with the three states to entirely ban indoor tanning among minors in 2013, three others passed legislation regulating the use of indoor tanning equipment. In Oregon, anyone under 18 is prohibited from indoor tanning without a prescription, and in Connecticut and New Jersey indoor tanning is prohibited for anyone under age 17, This is in addition to other states that require parental consent, or prohibit indoor tanning for those under 14.

The American Academy of Dermatology cites studies showing nearly 28 million Americans – including 2.3 million teens—use indoor tanning beds each year. However, six states have now banned indoor tanning for minors since the beginning of 2012, and some 29 additional states have at least one legislative bill under consideration regarding the regulation or prohibition of indoor tanning for minors in 2014. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed that the classification for sunlamps and tanning beds be raised to a Class II level, which institutes stricter regulations to protect public health.

Make your voice heard.

If you believe indoor tanning devices should receive the maximum amount of regulation, which more closely matches the health risks of these harmful devices, write a letter of support to your state elected officials urging the FDA to regulate tanning beds and ban those under 18 from using them. You can also email The Skin Cancer Foundation at advocacy@skincancer.org. The Foundation will compile all emails of support and send them to the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg’s office.

So you have fair skin. You may have skin that we sometimes refer to as “porcelain” or “alabaster.” You might be borderline flammable. You might even be Irish. And the spring sun is coming fast, in its ultraviolet glory. What can you do?

A Brief (But Fair) History

We believe our distant ancestors were trying to give us clues about this.

Some people think that the earliest humans were naturally fair-skinned (but quite hairy). Since they lived where the sun radiates strong UV radiation year-round, these people were forced to develop more melanin (the dark pigment in the skin) as protection from skin cancer.

Others think that everybody started out dark-skinned and gradually lightened up as people migrated to places with less sunlight (fair skin tends to collect vitamin D from the sun more effectively).

Either way the message is clear: sun protection is pretty important.

What Can Be Done

Nowadays, sun protection is also much more elegant. Fair-skinned people are some of our favorite customers here at Coolibar. We love providing fashionable choices for the fair-skinned. For us, St. Patrick’s Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. Well, not quite. But you get the idea.

Check out our Coolibar looks for spring. Notice that we’re not just talking sun hats. We’re talking complete outfits in the lightest, most comfortable fabrics in wearable sun protection. We have beach wraps, tops, swimwear, travel apparel, perhaps the coolest boardshorts you’ve ever seen and much more for men, women and kids – all guaranteed UPF 50+. Where the fair-skinned fear to tread – out in the full sun on a warm day – Coolibar wearers can now stride boldly!

Find products that multi-task – from the latest BB cream, lip balm and hair crème, there are so many dual function products. And who really has time for layering on serums, sunscreen, then foundation? The best to find products that have both the coverage and moisture my skin craves along with the recommended sunscreen dosage.

Keep your sun-safe accessories accessible – getting out the door on time is a challenge each morning, and rather than fumble around, it’s helpful to keep everything in a logical place.

The Health Promotions staff is working to make Calvert County residents aware of the dangers of too much exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. One in five Americans is expected to get skin cancer in their lifetimes. Skin cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in the United States. While usually curable, skin cancer is a serious disease that can lead to death.

How to Protect Yourself:

Try to stay out of the sun midday when ultraviolet rays are strongest.

Cover up with wide brimmed hats and long sleeved shirts.

Wear sunglasses with 100% of UVA and UVB protection.

Use sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher about 30 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply sunscreen after going into the water or at least every two hours. Use a lip balm with a SPF of 15 or greater.

Make sure children six months and older are protected with sunscreen and hats. Use an umbrella at the beach or pool to avoid too much sun. Infants should always stay in the shade whenever outdoors.

Protect yourself year-round when working or playing outdoors. You still need to use sunscreen in the winter on any exposed skin, particularly the face. Wear sunglasses.

Warning Signs of Skin Cancer:

Sudden or progressive change in a mole’s appearance.

A sore that doesn’t heal.

A mole, bump, or nodule that is scaly, lumpy, crusting, or bleeding, or takes an irregular shape.

Swelling, irritation, redness or spread of color into the skin near a mole, birthmark, or freckle.